| VINTAGE NOTE

The previous winter offered an above-average rainfall. Spring was mild and the growing conditions during the entire season were ideal, even with some heat waves in October. The bloom occurred under adequate temperature and humidity. The temperatures remained steady and warm throughout the year, without any significant heat spikes. The yields of our mountain vineyards were slightly higher than the previous vintage but remained small (3 tons/acre). After
the end of veraison, a single pass of thinning facilitated the homogenization of the crop. Most of the vineyard blocks were physiologically ripe at the same time with a desirable amount of polyphenols.

| WINEGROWING NOTES

Grown on the slopes of Mount Saint Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot display their hillside origins. Rocky, rhyolitic soils created through volcanic activity millennia ago, contribute a mineral richness and add to the wine’s complexity. Spanning forty nine acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot below.

| WINEMAKER'S TASTING NOTES

Deep ruby in color with a red-purple rim, the 2018 ‘Les Pavots’ reveals a sophisticated bouquet of freshly blossomed violets and sweet tones of blueberry and boysenberry synchronizing with native, wild garrique and crushed stone minerality. Full-bodied and elegant, the wine offers a lavish array of flavors: blackberry pie and Albion strawberries contrast savory notes of tobacco and cigar box. Hints of cedar, vanilla bean, and black pepper lead to a long, well-structured finish. Approachable in its youth, Les Pavots provides an exemplary representation of our winery estate terroir and will continue to evolve graciously for two decades.